Arne Slot to face the media for first time as Liverpool boss with Anfield challenge clear

Jurgen Klopp made no secret of his dislike of holding numerous press conferences and conducting countless interviews while Liverpool manager. While his position was understandable, it is a shame the German did not enjoy his weekly appointments with the media as he was so good at them.

Klopp’s successor will soon get his first taste of the British press with Arne Slot facing the media for the first time at an unveiling press conference on Friday at the club's AXA Training Centre. It is scheduled for 11am BST (6am EDT).

The challenge facing Slot is clear. While Reds supporters will back the new man, he is replacing a legend of the club. But it isn’t just about being successful on the pitch, even if that is obviously the main aim. Klopp also ‘won’ most of his press conferences and his first one for Liverpool perhaps most of all.

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He began setting out his agenda from his first interview for the club . For the final question, Klopp was asked: “what is your message to the Liverpool supporters?” His response has gone down in history. “We have to change from doubter to believer. Now.”

He made reference to this in his farewell speech following his final game in charge . "People told me I turned them [Liverpool fans] from doubters into believers, that’s not true. Believing is an active act, you have to do it yourself. I just said we have to, you did it. That is a big difference,” he said.

In his first presser, the German swiftly had the assembled journalists eating out of his hand. Perhaps the most famous quote came when he was asked to describe himself.

“Does anyone in this room think I can do wonders. No? I'm a very normal guy," he said, later adding: “I'm the normal one, maybe, if you want this,” in knowing, stark contrast to the ‘special one’ moniker which Jose Mourinho demanded for himself.

It’s not easy to charm the media at the best of times, especially when not speaking in your mother tongue. Klopp had no problems in his debut Liverpool press conference though. “I hope to enjoy my work, all the people told me about the British press and it's up to you to show me they are all liars,” he said on that memorable day. Slot will need to speak as well from day one too.

Liverpool.com says: Slot will inevitably be judged most harshly on the pitch. But press conferences are where fans learn about players or managers as people. The former Feyenoord head coach will have to deliver in front of the worlds media on Friday to set his Liverpool tenure off in style.